Pull-switch cluster



Dec. 1924- 1,517,683

P. D. PHILLIPS PULL SWITCH CLUSTER Filed Sept. '7, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l P. D., PHILLIPS PULL SWITCH CLUSTER Filed Sept. '7, 1920 Z"'heets-Sheet 2' Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES rArsr race-- PAUL D. PHILLIPS, OF ELMHURST, ILLINOIS, .[iSEItil-IGR T BEIUAMIN ELECTRIC MAN UFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PULL-SWITCI-I CLUSTER.

Application filed September 7, 1920.

To all whom it may 0097067" 2.

Be it known that T, PAUL D. Piiinnirs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmhurst, in the county of Du Page and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pull-Switch Clusters, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part oithis specification.

My invention relates to electrical devices and more specifically to pull switch plug clusters.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a pull switch plug cluster in which the switch mechanism is mounted on a plate or base so that the base and switch mechanism can be assembled as a unit and afterwards mounted in place.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved pull switch plug cluster which will be durable and efficient in operation and simple in construction.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow and from the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which an embodiment of my invention is shown;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pull switch plug cluster embodying my invention;

Fig. 2'is an axial section of the plug clus ter shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view with parts removed to show. the interior construction;

Fig. 4 is a vertical axial section substantially on the line 4l4l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the switch base and switch mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the base and switch mechanism shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View of part of the switch mechanism;

Fig. 8 is an axial section of the switch; and

Fig. 9 is a detailed view showing part of the switch mechanism.

The pull switch plug cluster shown in the drawing comprises in a general way, a plug portion 10 for screwing into a socket. a cluster portion 11 for receiving suitable plug devices, and a switch mechanism 12 for controlling the circuit from the plug portion 10 to the center contacts 18 of the cluster portion 11. The switch base 14C and shell receptacle contacts 15 are both secured to Serial No. 408,488.

an inverted cup-shaped insulating housing and base member 16, by means of a pair of screws 17, which extend through openings 18,- (Figs. 3 and 6) and are threaded into a V-shaped supporting bracket 19, to which the threaded shell contacts 15 are secured.

'- The -inverted cup-shaped member 16 which supports the contacts and switch mechanism is in turn secured to and supported from the plug portion 10 by means of a central screw 20, which extends through axial openings in the plug portion 10 and member 16 and is threaded into a nut 21. This screw 20 and nut 21 also serve to; secure a switch contact member 22 in place, as shown in Fig. 41-, this contact member 22 being formed of a single integral sheet metal stamping, formed to provide spring cont-acts 23, one for each of the switch mechanisms 24.

For completing the housing for the receptacle contact and switch mechanism, a cup-shaped sheet metal casing member 25 is provided, which together with the inverted cup-shaped member 16- forms an-e'nclosure for the receptacle contacts and switch mechanism, the casing member 25 being held in place by the two bushings 26 which extend through openings in the'housing 25 and are threaded onto the threaded shell contacts 15.

The threaded shell contacts 15 of the re ceptacle portion are always electrically connected with the threaded shell contact 27 ot' the plug portion, by means of a conducting strip 28, which may be an inte gral sheet metal stamping, having a portion engaging a flange of the threaded she'll contact 10 and a portion engaging the foot or the V-shaped sheet metal bracket 19 which supports the threaded shell receptacle contacts 15. (Fig. 2.)

The switch contacts 23 are always electrically connected with the center contact 29 of the plug through the central screw 20. The switch mechanisms 24 control the circuit from the switch contacts 23 to the receptacle center contacts 13 respectively.

The switch mechanisms 24 are similar in construction. Each comprises, in addition to the spring contacts 23, a spring contact 30, electrically connected with the center contact 13, a rotatable commutator 31 for controlling the circuit between the contacts 23 and a pull chain 32, and ratchct mechanism 33, whereby operation of the pull chain 32 will cause a rotary stepby-step movement of the commutator 31. The commutator 31 comprises a ratchet shaped insulating contact carrier 34 and a pair of contacts35, carried by the contact carrier 34 and electrically connected with each other, which cooperate with the spring contacts 23 and 30, so that in one position of the commutator the spring contacts 23 and 30 are electrically connected with each other, through the contacts 35, and in another position of the commutator are electrically disconnected.

The ratchet mechanism 33 whereby the actuation of the pull chain 32 will cause a rotary step-by-step movement of the com mutator 31, comprises a switch lever 36, to which the pull chain 32 is connected, and a ratchet member 37 secured to the switch lever 36, which engages the contact carrier .34 to cause a step-by-step movement thereof upon actuation of the pull chain 32. For returning the switch lever 36 and pull chain 32 after they have been pulled down, a coil torsion spring 38 is provided, one end of which is secured to the switch lever 36, and the other end of which is secured to the switch frame 39, which supports the switch shaft 40, on which the commutator 33 and lever 36 are mounted.

All of the parts of both of the switches are mounted on a fiat switch base 14, which is formed of insulating sheet material. The switch frame may be an integral sheet metal stamping having foot portions 41 secured to the switch base 14 by screws 42.

The center contact 13 may be formed as part of an integral sheet metal stamping having base portions 43, which are secured to the switch base 14 and are held in contact with the base portions of the switch contacts 30 by means of screws 44, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

Thus each center contact 13 is always elec trically connected with one of the spring contact fingers 30, the center contact 29 of the plug is always electrically connected with the spring contact fingers 23, and each of the connnutators 31 control the circuit from the plug center contact 29 to one of the receptacle center contacts 13.

In assembling the device the parts shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may first be assembled, these parts comprising practically all of the switch mechanism, and the center contact 13, being all assembled on the switch base 14. The switch base is then slipped over the central projection 45 of the inverted cupshaped insulating base 16, the rectangular switch base 14 surrounding this central projection 45, which supports or backs up the center contacts 13. The member 28 is then put in place, with the slot 46 (shown in Fig. 3) in registration with the opening 18 of the switch base 14. The V-shaped bracket 19 is then put in position with the openings in its foot portions in registration with the slot 46 and the opening 18 respectively. The screws 17 are then put in place and screwed into the foot portions of the V-shaped bracket 19 to hold the switch base, the V-shaped bracket 19 and the member :28 in place. The double contact member is then put in place, with its opening in registration with the central openings in the plug 10 and cup-shaped insulating base 16, the plug shell contact 27 is then slipped sidewise into place with its flange under the bent over end 47 of the conducting member 228, the insulating base 40 of the plug is slipped in place inside the threaded shell contact 27 of the plug, the center contact of the plug 2%) is put in place, the central connecting and, conducting screw 20 is inserted through the openings in the plug base 48 and the cupshaped base 16 is screwed into the nut 21 to hold the plug portion and cup portion together, and to electrically connect the center contact 29 with the spring contact fingers 23.

It will be seen that a simple construction of plural switch plug contact is provided whereby the switch mechanism can be assembled practically complete, and adjusted before it is placed in position.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, it may be embodied in various forms, as covered and defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to sccure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. A pull switch plug receptacle comprising a plug portion, a receptacle portion and a plurality of switches, said plug portion comprising a contact for engaging the contact of a socket, said receptacle portion comprising an integral inverted cup-shaped insulating base, forming a housing and support, shell contacts supported by said insulating base, and a switch base of sheet material supported by said cup-shaped insulating base above said threaded shell contacts, means for mounting said switches on said switch base, and means for mounting said switch base on said insulating base independently of said switch mounting means, whereby said switch base and said plurality of switches are detachable from said insulating base as a unit.

2. A pull switch receptacle comprising a plug portion, a receptacle portion, and a plurality of switches, said plug portion comprising a contact for engaging the contact of a receptacle, said receptacle portion con1- prising an integral inverted cup-shaped insulating base, forming a housing and support, a V-shaped bracket secured to said cup-shaped member, a plurality of threaded shell contacts supported by said V-shaped support, and a switch base of insulating sheet material supported in said cup-shaped insulating base above said V-shaped bracket, means for mounting said switches on said switch base, and means for mounting said switch base on said insulating base independently of said switch mounting means, whereby said switches and switch base are detachable as a unit from said insulating base.

3. A pull switch plug receptacle comprising a plug portion, a receptacle portion, and a plurality of switches, said receptacle portion comprising an integral inverted cupshaped insulating base, forming a housing and support, a bracket secured to said insulating base, a plurality of threaded shell contacts secured to said bracket, a switch base of insulating sheet material supported by said insulating base above said threaded shell contacts, means for mounting said switches on said switch base and common means for securing said switch base and bracket to said insulating base independently of said switch mounting means, whereby said switch base and plurality of switches are detachable from said insulating base as a unit.

4. A pull switch plug receptacle comprising a plug portion, a receptacle portion, and a plurality of switches, said receptacle portion comprising an integral inverted cupshaped insulating base, forming a housing and support, a bracket secured to said insulating base, a plurality of threaded shell contacts secured to said brackets, a switch base of insulating sheet material supported by said insulating base, above said threaded shell contacts, means for mounting said plurality of switches on said switch base and common means for securing said switch base and bracket to said insulating base inclependently of said switch mounting means, whereby said switch base and said plurality of switches are detachable from said insulating base as a unit, said common means comprising screws extending through said insulating base.

5. A pull switch receptacle, comprising a plug portion, a receptacle portion, and a plurality of switches, said receptacle portion comprising an integral inverted cup-shaped insulating base forming a housing and sup port, and having a central projection, a plurality of threaded shell contacts supported by said insulating base, a plurality of center contacts supported by said central projection, a switch base of insulating sheet material supported by said cup-shaped insulating base above said threaded shell contacts and embracing said central projection, means for mounting said plurality of switches on said switch base, and means for mounting said switch base on said insulating base independently of said switch mounting means whereby said switch base and said plurality of switches are detachable from said insulating base as a unit.

6. A pull switch plug receptacle comprising a plug portion, a receptacle portion, and a plurality of switches, said receptacle portion comprising an integral inverted cupshaped insulating base, forming a housing and support, shell contacts supported. by

said insulating base, a switch base of insulating sheet material supported by said cup-shaped insulating base, center contacts mounted on said switch base means for mounting said switches on said switch base, and means for mounting said switch base on said insulating base independently of the switch mounting means, whereby said switch base, switches and center contacts are detachable from said insulating base as a unit.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

PAUL D. PHILLIPS. 

